Personal Trainer / Gym advice

ari101

Hi all,

I had surgery a couple of years back and my core strength has never properly recovered: I'm medically fine I just need to work out the muscles 😳 - I'm grand for doing a decent bit of cardio (walking), but I hate the count/stop/repeat/switch so have zero motivation to do it on my own.

I'm not sure I can afford PT (people deserve a good wage so I won't begrudge if it is out of my price range), but I think I need to invest in a bit of supervision to get started and then maybe I can switch to some kind of group classes.

There is a FlyeFit near me (D16) I could afford membership of, but can someone give me an idea of what I might pay for PT sessions, also how do novices like me know if trainers are any good...? 😅

I've not been in a gym in 15+ years so I'm struggling with the fear of looking like an idiot who has no clue and makes a holy show of herself 🙈😂

I'd prefer to do something in person (at least initially) but other suggestions to find supervised help are welcome.

Thanks for your time.

Black Sheep

If you're sure you want to got the route of a personal trainer for the first few weeks / months back, then for what it's worth I would do some research on small gyms / PT businesses in D16 or the surrounding area and approach it on that basis.

A slightly more economical option would be to look for "small group" classes - where there's a coach and the number of participants is low enough that you'll get some coaching. Again, check out smaller local gyms - possibly worth looking for CrossFit, Bootcamps or F45 in the area and doing a trial class.

ari101

Thanks for the recommendations, much appreciated.

Cill94

Market standard for personal training is approximately 60 euro per session. You will find some who charge significantly less than that, but that is a strong indication that they are probably newly qualified and lacking experience. Main way you can tell if a coach is any good is to look for testimonials.

If you are on a tight budget then I would recommend looking at the small group class gyms. They are a lot cheaper than a PT, but still significantly more expensive than a FlyeFit membership.

zzxx

I highly recommend https://thisistheway.ie/. Lots of very manageable payment options and great to deal with.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120435142#Comment_120435142

I don't know about other people, but I've had very sketchy PTs in the past.

Had one a few years ago. He was quite arrogant and talked about how he was "clearly the best PT in the gym". He would regularly mock how other PTs were training their clients and so on. He also made slightly insulting comments about my face. It lasted a couple of months, and I put up with it because I was actually getting results, but alas, had to end it eventually.

Fast forward to mid-last year and hired another PT, as I fell out of shape over COVID etc. This PT became overly sexual, would make inappropriate comments that were clearly designed to steer the PT-client relationship down a personal-sexual route; would sit down for almost the entire session and give me the same workout 90% of the time; would ask, "do you mind if I train with you today?". I could go on, but I just had to leave it. It became almost predatory and I was almost dreading heading in for sessions.

I know this isn't the norm with PTs, but I've only had 2 bad experiences. Which is a shame, as I'm currently looking for one to replace the predator PT.

CPTM

Would you consider a hybrid programme? I'm a big supporter of finding a good PT, particularly for anyone starting out in the gym, or anyone with specific injuries or weaknesses. But just personally I've had a lot of success with the Freeletics app. It cost about 70 euro for the year and comes with a great daily nutrition wing to it (another application). Without the nutrition side, Freeletics itself was around 50 euro for the year as far as I remember.

There are lots of workouts on it, 12 week training journeys (depending on your goal like flexibility, strength, power, cardio) and every exercise has a video with it to show you the correct technique. It also asks for your input so you can tell it you don't like certain exercises, or some were more difficult than others, and it changes the programme based on that feedback.

I told it I wanted to improve core strength about 7 weeks ago and I have to say it has done a great job at that.

But you could have that app plus a PT once every 7/10 days or so, depending on your budget.

Cill94

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120906899#Comment_120906899

Sorry to hear you had that experience. From working in the industry many years, I've come across lots of these types. Conveniently, they tend to specialise in training inexperienced young women with physique goals.

Unfortunately, I've had many new clients ask me if it was normal for their last PT to insist on half naked photos, constantly touching them during a session etc. It's not, and you should never be afraid to walk away if you have doubts about a coach's intentions. There are plenty of better ones out there.

artanevilla

A good PT is worth their weight in gold. I'm very happy with mine and I'm seeing progression I never would have seen on my own. He does encourage taking photos, but not for him, for your own benefit to see your progress and changes in your body as the weeks go on as you don't notice it as much over a long period of time. However I am a man so am probably less likely to be creeped upon which I've no doubt does happen.

Most of his clients are female but I think that might be the same for most PTs as I think woman or more likely to seek direction where as men (quite wrongly imo) generally feel they can do it all themselves without a PT.

Like everything, shop around and find the PT that suits you.

Group stuff is good as it motivates you but you're not getting that specificity that a one-on-one PT gives you.

What I do is do one PT session a week and then the rest on my own, maybe 2 or 3 more. I tell him what I do on my own, what I am weakest at, what I want to improve and during our session work on that then work my own sessions around that.

Another thing about PT for me is even if I have zero motivation for the week, at least I get one gym session in as it's an appointment and it's paid for so it gets me out to do it whereas if I had planned to just go to the gym I'd just say fúck it I'll leave it.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120907240#Comment_120907240

Actually, I'm a guy and the PT was a guy too. So perhaps a slightly different dynamic compared to the experience you've outlined.

The PT in question did routinely want to "take measurements" but given the sleazy, predatory nature, I refused to have it done. Awkward to say the least, as measurements and so on are standard, but there was no way I could go ahead with that (even though I'm gay myself).

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120907298#Comment_120907298

I agree.

My discipline when it comes to exercise isn't as good as I'd like. I don't enjoy it in the way that many do, so a PT can be a real boost with the appointment-style nature of it, where you almost have to turn up.

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120907845#Comment_120907845

it’s unfortunate that happened. I’ve seen a minority of PTs and members treat the gym as live grindr. Obviously this guy does know boundaries of decency.

Luckily you can easily avoid this by going for a PT that’s “incompatible”.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120910861#Comment_120910861

For sure, if only I had known at the time!